VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Vice chairperson III of maritime, investment, and foreign affairs at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shinta W. Kamdani. (ANTARA PHOTO/Prasetyo Utomo/Spt/pri/uyu) - 

The Indonesian Business 20 (B20) delegation conducted a roadshow in the United States and Canada to disseminate the priority issues and agendas of Indonesia’s 2022 B20 Presidency.

The roadshow also sought to invite business actors from the two countries to attend the B20 Indonesia Summit on November 13–14, 2022, in Bali, head of Indonesia’s B20 Presidency organizer, Shinta W. Kamdani, informed in a statement issued here on Saturday.

According to the B20 website, the forum is the official G20 dialogue forum for the global business community.

The official said she expects the roadshow to boost Indonesia's bilateral economic cooperation with the United States and Canada and showcase investment opportunities in energy transition and sustainable financing to potential investors from the two countries.

The green energy transition project is expected to be one of the legacies of Indonesia’s 2022 B20 Presidency for the global community.

It will be pursued through a net-zero road map to create more business opportunities, clean and green jobs, as well as inclusive and collaborative economic growth.

During the roadshow, the B20 delegation visited the Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) Forum, New York Stock Exchange, World Bank, Development Finance Corporation (DFC), United States Chamber of Commerce, and the Department of Commerce.

They also met the US President's special envoy for climate, John Kerry.

During the visit, Kamdani, who is also vice chairperson III of maritime, investment, and foreign affairs at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), emphasized that meeting the net-zero emissions target set by Indonesia for 2060 will require financial, technology, and energy infrastructure support to encourage the optimal use of new and renewable energy.

In addition, proper incentive policy mechanisms are required to increase public and private funding and investment in low-carbon activities and projects.

"In conducting the energy transition, we must also pay attention to energy justice since the attempt also concerns the general community,” the Kadin official said.

During the roadshow, the Indonesian delegates also called for cross-border cooperation and global solidarity, with a focus on the development of digital transformation, clean energy, as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)//ANT

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati (middle) with the head of fiscal policy, Febrio Kacaribu (left), and Governor of Bank Indonesia, Perry Warjiyo (right), at a press conference on the second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) Meeting in Washington D.C. on April 20, 2022. (ANTARA/HO-Communication and Information Bureau at the Finance Ministry/aa/rst) - 

The G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) is encouraging the strengthening of public and private sector synergies to improve sustainable finance to meet the goals of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.

Wempi Saputra, expert staff for macroeconomics and international finance to the Finance Minister, made the remarks on Saturday.

He highlighted the role of the private sector in mobilizing affordable sustainable finance given the limited fiscal capacity amid the current global crisis.

"The fiscal capacity of countries in the ongoing global crisis is limited," he noted.

One effort to mobilize the private sector was the G20 Sustainable Finance Private Sector Roundtable.

At the forum, private sector players shared their thoughts about voluntary practices to help financial institutions (FIs) develop and fulfill transition plans and also create a wider supporting environment.

The private and public sectors also discussed tools and policies to increase the access of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to sustainable financial instruments.

Saputra said that the private sector also discussed the role of digital finance and public sector mechanisms in developing countries in increasing access to sustainable financial markets.

Furthermore, private sector representatives highlighted several potential areas of work to help accelerate the promotion of sustainable finance, he added. 

Efforts to accelerate the improvement of sustainable finance cover the interoperability of the alignment approach, data availability and quality, disclosure of transition plans or transparency, and the role of the public sector in providing incentives.

G20 is a forum consisting of the European Union and 19 countries, namely South Africa, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Germany, Canada, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, Russia, France, China, and Turkey.

Indonesia is holding the 2022 G20 Presidency from December 2021 until November 2022. There are two main work streams discussed at the G20, namely the Finance Track, which focuses on financial, economic, monetary, and tax issues, and the Sherpa Track, which focuses on climate change, development, trade, energy, anti-corruption, and geopolitics//ANT

A convoy of President Jokowi's vehicles enter the Gedung Agung Presidential Palace in Yogyakarta. April 30, 2022. (ANTARA/Luqman Hakim) - 

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) arrived at the Gedung Agung Presidential Palace, Yogyakarta City, on Saturday afternoon, to spend the end of the holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr in the city located in Central Java.

Jokowi, seated in a black Toyota Alphard, entered the Agung Building complex at around 1 p.m. local time.

Before entering the gates of Gedung Agung, he waved out from inside the car to the crowds that welcomed his arrival.

Meanwhile, police officers and several military personnel were seen on standby to maintain security in front of the gates of the palace located in the Jalan Malioboro area.

Nur Hasanah, 53, a tourist from Cilegon, expressed enthusiasm on welcoming President Jokowi. She was eager to halt her tour agenda along Jalan Malioboro to capture the moment.

Hasanah said this was the first time she had seen the president in person, although it was only from a distance.

"It is nice to see Pak Jokowi. I could see him from the window. I want to be able to shake hands with Pak Jokowi," she remarked.

Earlier, after reviewing the Formula E Circuit in Ancol, North Jakarta, on Monday (Apr 25), President Joko Widodo said he would go home and perform Eid prayers in the Special Region of Yogyakarta.

Although he could not confirm how long he would be in Yogyakarta, the president said that the palace would not hold any halal-bihalal (open house) activities.

"When I go home, it is in Solo, Central Java. However, I do not go to Solo. I will go to Yogyakarta. Insyaallah (God willing), yes, it is for (Eid al-Fitr prayers)," Jokowi stated//ANT

Secretary General of the Indonesian Red Cross Society (PMI) Sudirman Said at the Kampung Rambutan Terminal, East Jakarta, on Saturday (April 30, 2022). ANTARA/Arnidhya Nur Zhafira -

Secretary General of the Indonesian Red Cross Society (PMI) Sudirman Said praised the high level of compliance to health protocols among travellers during their Eid al-Fitr exodus trip.

"We are thankful that almost all travellers (are observing health protocols) and only a handful of travellers are not using masks. Moreover, booster vaccine requirements and the COVID-19 test certificate requirement for residents, who are yet to receive their booster vaccine, are still being followed," Said stated at the Kampung Rambutan Terminal, East Jakarta, on Saturday.

The secretary general lauded the travellers' cooperation to observe health protocols while travelling and expressed optimism that they would continue to observe health protocols after arriving at their destination.

"Residents' awareness to protect each other is still high, and we hope it would continue after they arrive in their hometown. After all, we are still vulnerable (to COVID-19) despite the current declining trend. We must ensure that the Eid al-Fitr exodus will not cause a surge in infections," he noted.

The Central PMI office, Jakarta provincial PMI office, and the municipal PMI office conducted joint operations to assist travellers at 11 exodus embarkation points in Jakarta that included the Port Tanjung Priok, Pasar Senen Station, and Kampung Rambutan Terminal, the secretary general remarked.

The Red Cross Society is ready to provide health assistance to travellers, including free health masks and ambulance services for emergency purposes as well as health protocol information, he stated.

Said remarked that the service will be available throughout the Eid exodus period a week before and one week after Eid al-Fitr.

He noted that travellers should ensure staying healthy while returning to their hometown amid the high travel fervour among residents after two years of COVID-19-related travel restrictions compelled them to spend Eid al-Fitr away from their families and relatives.

"Travellers can spend time with families (in their hometown), but they must also ensure that they will not infect (their family) and they will return safely and in good health," the secretary general remarked//ANT